Which surgery did you have and why?

There is another option as well, the DS. That incorporates a sleeve and offers more malabsorption than the RNY. Pretty much the big guns. It is very effective is putting diabetes in remission as well.

But the DS does have a sleeve so if the sleeve would be out for you then so would the DS.

I had a sleeve initially and suffered from very bad reflux. I did before surgery and it was much worse afterwards. I wound up with a revision to the RNY, not due to the reflux but it was a happy byproduct that it completely cured my GERD issues to this day, 7 years later.

Your insurance may only allow one WLS procedure per lifetime so it is very important that you choose the best now because it may not be easily revised.

In the end I am happy with my RNY pouch. I am one of the 30% who dump and that has been very effective in keeping me away from sugar which was my number one food addiction. I probably would have been fine with just a malabsorptive procedure if reflux hadn't of been an issue but I am not sorry that I wound up with what I have.

With the RNY and DS you will need to be very diligent in following your labs and making sure you have the right vitamins and supplements. If you can't do that than it might not be a good idea to have WLS since even the VSG requires you to supplement.

Personally the deterrent of dumping has been a positive thing since I know I couldn't eat things with sugar in moderation and knowing I dump is a good reason not to even try.

But you are the one who has to live with the surgery so I am glad you are doing all your research. I am sure you will make the best decision for your own needs.

That's lots of great info. Thanks! The malabsorption scares me. I know it's always listed as a benefit. I am still trying to wrap my head around that one!!

I had the DS because I wanted to maintain my weight loss...and I felt it was the only surgery that would allow me to do that. All the surgeries will allow you to lose weight (if you work with them), but the other surgeries required too much behavioral modification. I tried dieting for almost 30 years prior to my DS (went on my first diet when I was 7).....sooooooooo yeah been there did that and failed. I didn't think WLS would change my mind.

I was right! Restriction eventually goes away...you can "out eat" any surgery....but because of malabsorbtion....11 years later and I'm maintaining a 300 lb weight loss.

Scott

Wow. I really don't know a lot about DS. Don't think it's done much here in my area (Toronto). Not sure though! My research continues. :)

Hello fellow Torontonian, your right DS is not a part of the OHIP funded program

Hello! And thank you. :)

https://www.dsfacts.com/duodenal-switch-in-ontario.php

Thanks Scott. Really interesting! No wonder DS isn't really talked about here... we have one (ONE!!) doctor who performs it. I'm still going to look into it though. :)

I chose VSG because my single issue was the inability to control my portions. I had already modified what I ate 2 years prior to surgery due to diabetes diagnosis, but still ate way too much.

It was the perfect choice for me. My diabetes is gone, my blood pressure is much better (hypertension runs in my family so I will probably always have it to some extent), and my new tummy gives me the portion control I couldn't do on my own!

I had VSG because I had no reasons that I needed to have RNY (i.e., no history of reflux, diabetes, etc.) VSG was the surgery that appealed to me the most.